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Nov 22, 2023Liked by Julia Watson

Delicious! Another favourite is Brussels with anchovies and chestnuts.

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I will eat ANYTHING with anchovies! https://juliawatson.substack.com/p/anchovies-the-marmite-of-the-sea That suggestion sounds delicious!

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Nov 22, 2023Liked by Julia Watson

So good to see the much-maligned brussels sprout getting a feature to itself! I cook mine with bacon, too, though I think the hazelnut version sounds pretty good. One variety - it's a cross - that I particularly like is the Flower sprout; grows just like the Brussels, but is an open, purple version. Try it pan-fried (butter, of course!) with a sprinkle of orange zest, a squeeze of orange juice, and grated apple. Particularly good with a roast of lamb ...

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Delicious suggestion! I love those - particularly the way the leaves lend themselves to being separated and tossed quickly to keep them slightly al dente.

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I had a notion you might be familiar with them! Unfortunately, I've none this year, but braised red cabbage goes very well with goose ...

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One of the very best pairings!

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Sorry, I have another sprout preparation question. A lot of recipes tell you to boil or steam the sprouts first and then roast them. Is that really necessary? It seems to me that just introduces a lot of unnecessary water which will eventually mean mushy sprouts again.

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I would agree with you! Blanching them briefly and plunging them, drained, in iced water wouldn't turn them soggy. But I wouldn't risk anything else. If you want to shorten roasting time, halve the sprouts.

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As usual, your articles are so timely. I had already decided to make brussels sprouts with dates and hazelnuts. And we have some vegans who come for Thanksgiving and I wanted to try a new recipe for them, so I’m doing this one below. My question is how can I make most of it ahead of time and then heat up once I get to the family dinner? I don’t want the sprouts to be soggy, mushy, or overcooked—as you say that’s the worst thing for a sprout. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/recipe-roasted-brussels-sprouts-with-hazelnuts-and-dates/

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Is it that you don't have oven space? Because they need very little cooking time. If you did cook them ahead, could you toss them in a vinaigrette and serve them as a 'salad'?

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I’ll have to ask my hostess if she’ll have enough oven space. But you’re right. I could get them all prepared and cook them once we get there. Provided she doesn’t have a million casseroles and rolls to bake once the turkey comes out.

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That describe the standard Thanksgiving huddle!

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Hola , Muy Buena Receta. Creo Qué Las Coles De Bruselas No Las Llevaron Los Franceses A Louisiana , Sino Los Españoles 1763-1803. Un Saludo.

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You may very well be right. But while researching the piece, I found two sources that claimed the French were first which to me made sense because of the close ties between France and Brussels.

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